CHAPTER 9
Ishtar didn’t know what do with herself when she rose.
She could have gone down to dine but feared running into people.
Used to her own company, the idea of socializing, even about mundane matters, had her cringing.
Worse than small talk, likely they’d try and convince her to help destroy Earth.
Never mind the fact her weapon could kill the Kukakk.
Why could none of them grasp that what she’d done should never be attempted again?
Reece seemed to think he could find a way to counter the weapon’s catastrophic result. She wished she could believe that. Still, when he’d offered a bargain, she’d accepted. Why not? It wasn’t as if he could fix Mars.
Thinking of him reminded her of the dream they’d shared.
Unexpected and shocking. For one, she’d never done that before, which didn’t make it impossible.
Through her memories, she knew it used to be quite common—among those who formed a vinceros.
Essentially a bond that tied two people together.
Humans had a word for it. Soulmates. Only one problem.
Ishtar didn’t love Aquarius. She’d never loved anyone.
It seemed too selfish for her to indulge in a relationship when so many of her people couldn’t.
There must have been another reason he appeared in her dream.
Probably something to do with his avatar status.
Although, why would the star gods bother to meddle?
Perhaps they, too, felt guilt for what happened.
The Martians hadn’t been the only ones taken by surprise.
The Astraeus never saw the Kukakk coming.
Couldn’t see them at all. Having had lifetimes to ponder that mystery, the only conclusion she’d come up with?
The Kukakk and Astraeus, both beings of energy, must exist on different frequencies.
Or if she were being more melodramatic, the power of light couldn’t see that of the dark and vice versa.
They required intermediaries such as humans.
A knock at her door snapped her head upright. A visitor? She knew even before saying, “Enter,” who it would be.
Reece entered with a smile. “Morning, Queenie.”
Her brow arched. “Queenie?”
“If we’re going to be working closely together, figured we’d keep things casual, and friends usually have nicknames for each other.”
Friends? “I’m not sure what you think we can do.” She paused, before adding, “Reece.” Two could play his game.
His grin widened. “That’s the spirit. I thought we’d start the day off with you sharing what happened after the explosion.”
“I told you. The magnetic field got destroyed, which led to—”
“I know that part. What I want to see, and I’m assuming you have it, is the data showing the progression. The measurements of the atmosphere and more before the blast, then what happened after.”
“I’m not sure how that’s supposed to help.”
“Me either,” his cheerful chirp. “But it’s a place to start if I’m going to figure out how to fix it.”
Since she couldn’t see the harm, and really had nothing else to do, she nodded.
And so, after a breakfast—which Nimrod nicely brought to her room for her to share with Reece—they headed to his office.
It wasn’t hard for her to link to the data.
She kept copies of it in a few places on Earth and Mars, although the latter took a little longer to retrieve, given the distance.
They spent that morning poring over numbers and graphs, their direness familiar to her, but the more they delved, the grimmer Reece appeared.
“It happened fast,” he noted when they broke for a midday meal of sandwiches with kettle-fried chips.
“I’m aware,” her dry reply.
“Would a weaker blast have preserved the magnetic field while still destroying the Kukakk?” his next question.
“Preserved yes, obliterated, no.” She took a sip of her iced tea before saying, “I tried with a less powerful wave first. It caused the Kukakk caught in it to shed its body, and while it did wobble about as if injured, it swiftly recovered.” Left unsaid how in its rage it had taken over a new body and slaughtered the Martians in its pens.
An aerial drone she’d dispatched had relayed the carnage.
“You said you ended up with four of them, right?”
She nodded. “Meaning four mega blasts.”
“Earth only has one. Would the damage be as extensive to our magnetic field?”
A good question. She drummed her fingers. “I don’t know. See our magnetic field was crustal in nature, meaning it emanated from the surface and the rocks, whereas the Earth’s is in its core. I don’t know what the effect would be.”
“And if the Earth’s core stops spinning, we’re screwed.
Hmm.” He appeared in thought, and for some reason, she found herself studying him.
As expected of a warrior, Reece had height and width, bulky with muscle, not fat.
However, his face lacked some of the harsher lines of the others she’d seen but not met.
Reece had offered her files on the current Zodiacs when she’d asked about them.
To her surprise, she’d discovered they now numbered thirteen, the Astraeus once imprisoned for its less-than-savory actions freed and once more a part of the group, Ophiuchus having chosen a female as its avatar.
A first and about time. Mars had been long past its age of sexism when it fell, and it had been jarring upon their transition to Earth to be thrust back into a patriarchy system.
Another reason why she’d kept herself apart.
“Earth to Queenie, come in.” Reece snapped his fingers, snapping her out of her reverie.
“What?” She almost barked the word.
“I was asking if it was possible to visit Mars in person so I could take some readings, maybe try a few things.”
“Try what?”
“Like re-magnetizing the surface.”
Her left brow arched. “And how exactly would you propose doing that?”
“No idea. I was hoping I might be inspired.”
She snorted. “Such a scientific method, and it was tried.” There’d been numerous attempts to try and bring back the magnetic field. None of it lasted. As soon as they succeeded with one section and started on the next, it began to fade.
“Okay, queen downer. What about water? Scientists have theorized Mars still has some but underground.”
“There is some, but much of it ended up vaporized and sucked into space.”
“Meaning even if we bring back the magnetic field and rebuild the atmosphere, we’ll run into arid issues.”
“Are you starting to grasp the severity?” Again, she couldn’t help her terseness.
But Reece wasn’t entirely to blame. He simply happened to point out the things they’d tried, the problems they’d encountered, the never-ending failures.
But worst of all, his most grievous crime?
His determination and the damned prophecy roused a tiny glimmer of hope in Ishtar.
A hope she’d long thought dead, and for that, she wanted to hate him—but couldn’t.
“I understand this is tough for you. You’ve been dealing with this problem for ages before I came along, and I don’t mean to sound like a dick, but maybe that’s the problem.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re too close to the issue. Too emotionally invested. Possibly blind to something that might be right in front of your eyes.”
“And you’re the fresh perspective that will waltz in and fix everything?” She couldn’t help but sound sour.
“Well, the prophecy does say the water bearer is the guy for the job.”
She could have been cruel and pointed out that same prediction mentioned his likely death, but what was the point?
The Kukakk was here. It had begun its quest for domination.
It might take longer without the Saurus and more of its brethren, but eventually, it would rule over Earth.
If Reece wanted to give his life trying to change that, then let him.
After all, he did have a point. She’d spent countless lifetimes trying to solve the impossible.
What did it hurt to let someone else have a go?
“When would you like to go to Mars?”
His expression brightened. “Really? You’ll take me?”
She shrugged. “Why not?”
“How long will it take us to get there? I should let Aries know.”
“Depends on how much time you need to get ready.”
He frowned. “I’ll require a few hours to gather some equipment.”
“Bring food. There’s nothing to eat in the citadel.”
“How many days’ worth?”
“As many as you think you’ll need to stay.”
“You still haven’t said how long to get there?”
“Seconds.”
He blinked. “Your ship is that fast?”
“No need to take the ship, which takes several days, since I have access to the portal for Mars.”
His eyes almost fell out of his head. “There’s a portal? Since when?”
“Since the construction of this tower. Did you really think we didn’t create an easy way to travel back and forth?” She smirked.
“Hold on. I’ve been through all the portals downstairs. I’d know if any went to Mars.”
“It’s not with the Earth-linked ones.”
“If you had a portal this entire time, why did you bother keeping the ship?”
“Because I didn’t feel like dealing with the Zodiac Warriors every time I wanted to travel. Can you imagine the questions? I’ve been fielding them since I met you.”
Reece offered a sheepish shrug. “What can I say? I find Mars fascinating.”
Only Mars? She’d have to be blind to not notice how his gaze often fell upon her, gleaming with appreciation. How long since a man had desired her? How much longer still since she’d felt a stirring of interest?
“I’m going to pack some gear right away. When and where should I meet you? Is there a secret door in the portal chamber for the Mars one?”
She shook her head. “Think higher.”
“Rooftop?”
“Almost. Meet me in my suite.”
“Oh hell yeah. See you in a few hours.”
Hours that Ishtar spent pacing and wondering if she did the right thing. Maybe taking him to her planet, for real this time and not in a dream, would finally make the situation sink into Reece’s stubborn—handsome—head.